After a long day of work from home filled with meetings and calls or simply a long day where you’ve been feeling off, the last thing many of us want to do is stand in front of the stove and cook. Food is essential for every single one of us as it boosts our health, energy, and even mood. But when you are already tired or having a bad day, many of us may look at the prospect of cooking a meal as a bit too much. We have all had days like that. But before you reach for your takeout menus and order, we have a few tips and tricks as well as easy meals to cook at home you can try. These may save you money and energy when you need it most!
Everything cooks in one single pan for maximum flavor and minimum wash up after and eliminates the need to search for or figure out what side dishes to create with them. Many one-pot recipes provide protein, grains, and vegetables in one dish.
No Crockpot or Instant Pot? No Problem.
Not everyone owns a crockpot or an instant pot, so how do you make an easy meal that cooks itself, tastes homecooked with as little effort as possible? One-pot (or pan) meals may be the perfect solution. Not only will you worry about clean up less as it will be a breeze, but it’s also easy to make enough in a single pot, pan, or skillet to have leftovers that will last several days, saving you from having to cook several nights in a row.
Many one-pot meals are also extremely budget-friendly, meaning they will not require too many ingredients.
Fajita Skillet
Seasoning:
1 packet of your favorite pre-made beef fajita seasoning. Or you can make a flavorful marinade ahead of time with these ingredients.
Marinade:
- Lime juice, about 2 small limes worth, about 4 tablespoons
- 1/4th cup olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1/3 cup cilantro
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons coarse salt
For the Skillet:
- 2 pounds Wholey’s USDA Choice Bottom Round Rump steak
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- ½ yellow onion
- Flour tortillas
- Toppings of your choice from avocado, cilantro leaves, cotija cheese, and more.
For the easiest prep, chop vegetables and steak ahead of time and marinate 1 day before cooking in a single skillet. The steak and vegetable toppings respond well to being reheated for leftovers.
How to make:
- Combine your USDA Choice Bottom Round Rump steak and all the ingredients for the marinade in a gallon sized Ziplock back or airtight container. Shake to evenly coat the meat and chill for at least 1 to 4 hours or overnight.
- Remove the steak and let it come to room temperature for easier, even cooking.
- While waiting for your steak to come to room temperature, thinly slice your peppers and onions.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Rump steak and cook for 4 minutes on each side until medium-rare or until your desired doneness. If you notice the steak burning instead of turning golden, turn it down to medium.
- When your steak is done how you like it, remove it from the heat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- While it is resting, scrape off and remove anything that might be burned on the bottom of the pan, adding another tablespoon of olive oil if needed, then toss your bell peppers and onion over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes, until softened and set aside.
- When the steak is done resting, thinly slice against the grain for the most tender cut, then assemble the fajitas and top with your favorites and hot sauce if you desire!
Pasta in a Pot
Everything to make a delicious pasta meal in your favorite cooking pot without having to use any other dish!
Ingredients:
- 1 lb of spaghetti
- 1 package of Wholey’s Johnsonville Andouille Smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cups halved grape tomatoes
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 4 cloves garlic
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
- 1 cup grated parmesan
How to cook:
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine pasta, sausage, onion, tomatoes, basil, garlic, and 4 ½ cups of water, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered until pasta is cooked through and liquid has reduced about 8-10 minutes. Stir in parmesan and serve!
Whenever you find yourself short on time after a super busy day or simply too tired, one-pot meals make your next meal easy and quick. Instead of reaching for the stash of take-out menus, let Wholey help you with making meal planning a pleasure, every time, with the highest-quality meat market selections and so much more all at your fingertips. It is easy to make us your next one-stop-shop for everything you need to create unique, family favorite meals in no time with ingredients delivered right to your door!
The next time you’re feeling the crunch from work or just your day to day, consider a delicious one-pot meal to make your next cooking adventure easier and more delicious than ever before.